“This is noteworthy, since consumption of fruit and vegetables is important for primary prevention of cardiovascular disease.

“These findings suggest a role for avocados in improving nutrient intakes and may be a strategy for getting Americans closer to meeting the fruit and vegetable

recommendations.”

The study funded by the Hass Avocado Board and published in the journal Internal Medicine Review said a healthy intake was about half a medium avocado a day.

Nikki Ford, Hass Avocado Board director of nutrition, said: “These findings indicate incorporating avocados could be one way for Americans to meet the recommended fruit and vegetable intake and potentially improve physiologic measures.

“As we fund additional clinical studies investigating the relationship between fresh avocado consumption and weight management and risk factors for cardiovascular disease and diabetes, we continue to encourage healthcare professionals to remain committed to recommending avocados as part of an overall healthy diet.”

In recent years the avocado has become popular among the health conscious and often referred to as a superfood.

It can weigh anywhere from 8 ounces (220 grams) to 3 pounds (1.4 kg).

It is often called ‘alligator pear’ - because it tends to be shaped like a pear and have green, bumpy skin like an alligator.

Since they were first introduced to the UK over 40 years ago avocados have become a staple of the British diet eating more than 35 million each year.

Multiple scientific studies have linked avocados with health benefits ranging from anti-ageing to warding off heart disease and even cancer.